Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-02-11
4 GREAT WOLF HUNT.
4 HUGE CIRCLE OF MEN AND DOGS
TWENTY MILES IN DIAMETER.


b.
The grandest wolf hunt that has ever take,
place in Illinois occurred in Douglas Coun-
ty on Thursday. About 1000 hunters took
part in the drive. Fifteen wolves were killei
and about twenty-five male their escaue
through the lines The whole Of Sargent
township was surrounded by circ.e Of
sportsmen from Douglas, Coles, Edgar.
yermillion and Mcultrie counties, with
not incOnsiderable detachment III ,m RI.
diana. The township lies between the Illi.
nois Midisnd and the indianapolis and
Springfield railroads and within COM
land, Hurseboro, Brockton, Newman.
Tuscola, Tolona, Arcola, Mattoon'
Paris, and several other growing
towns. It was surrounded by four com.
panies each commanded by captains Ths
circle formed by the hunters was twenty
proved to be the weakest. extended from
Brockton to Newman, along the Little
Amboy River. The north line, from New
man to Brush Fork, was the strongest The
west line, from Newman to HoIbrook's farm.
contained the greatest number Of hunters
The rules prohibited guns, hut hunters were
asked to appear on foot with clubs and dogs
Fully one-fourth Of the men were mounted,
and it was this violation of the rule that
afforded the wolves opportunities to escape.
At A. NJ, the different captains galioped
up and down the lines, tried to I'll up gaps
Of tho responsibilities on their shout
ders. The bsaters were drawn from
all sorts and conditions Of men. Soma
were large landowners, others sportsmen,
pure and simple, and others more or less in.
terested residents in the neighborhood The
east line advanced with 2 mighty shout which
colld be distinctly heard by members OF the
| west line, fully eight miles distant This
lung power Of the beaters must have
| been remarkable, for they kept vi
the yell almost necessarily for over two
hours. As matter of skilful generalship.
the captains erred in allowing this. There
were 50J dogs in the hunt aud in the first Ill
| teen minutes q doran wolves were beaten up,
| Two OF which were killed. The roundup
was arranged to take place on ANDY
Gwynn's farm. and with deafening shouts
/ the circle gradually contracted. A pack of five
| wolves was discovered by the east corps
The wolves were not the ordinary prairie
! wolves but were OF the timber or gray,
species, averaging in weight fully fifty
! pounds and looking not unlike large sheep
logs. The five in question were almost
within range OF shotgun, but they did not
remain stationary many seconds Right at
che southeast corner was a gap between the
two lines Of fully 100 yards and the
I wolves made rush for it at light.
ming speed. The heaters responded
with q gallant effort to close
The breach, and for q minute the excite
ment was intense Then as the party of five
were seen galloping over the brow of hill
| outside the lines, howl Of indignation went
| up from the ranks. Dogs were cursed and
kicked, and every one was saying that II be
had the organizing Of the drive the gap
would not have been whore it was,
But it was no use to cry over .sspilt milk. :
Four wolves succeeded in getting through,
three being killed. The other eight dashed
At weak place in the north line and three
were killed with clubs, the rest scampering
through